Lumber-clamp



(No Model.)

W. A. MADDEN. LUMBER GL-AMP.

No. 458,'763. Patented Sept. 1, 1891.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

lVILLIAM A. MADDEN, OF MADERA, GALIFORNIA.

LUMBER-CLAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,'763, dated September 1,1891.

V Application filed March 25,1891. Serial No. 386393. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. MADDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madera,Fresno county,State of Ca1iforna,have invented an Improvement in Lumber-Olamps andI herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Myinvention relates to that class of clamps the object of which is to bind together bunches of lumber to be sent in compaet masses down a flume.

My invention consists in the novel clamp hereinafter fnlly described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a clamp which can be readily ad justed and tightened to place on the end of the bunch, and which will avoid any necessity of using wedges commonly employed to spread the lumber to tighten the bunch in the clamp.

A further object is to provide a connection between the adjacent bunches of such a character as to permit each bunch to turn freely to its riding sidewithoutcramping or danger of loosening the elamps, and which will hold each bunch in place and not permit any riding over and consequent jamming in the rapids of the flnme.

Referring to the accompanyin g drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a perspective View of my clanp. Fig. 2 is a View showing the clanps applied to the lumber bunches.

A is the body or frame of the upper or stationary jaW or jaws B. C is the lower or movable jaw, having the stern or shank D, which passes npwardly through and is guided by a cross-plate a of the body A.

E is a bent or elbow lever pivotcd at e to the body A. Its short arm is connected with the shank or stem D of the lower or movable jaw C. The end of its long arm is provided with an eye 01' loop e', which is adapted to fit over and engage a lug d on the shank or stem D. Though there might be a single upper jaw, I deem two preferable, and by extending them from each side of the body or frame A the whole clamp is better balanced and can get a more stable grip or hearing on the top of the lumber, bunch.

end,and the bunches are connected one behind i another and so sent down the finme. The ola'nps usually employed are jaws connected by a straight rigid bar. The j aws are fitted to bunch ends on top and on the bottom, and as these clamps have no adjustment it is necessary to drive wedges in between the planks in order to spread the bunch and thus to tighten the bunch to the clam'p. Then the bunches are connected end to end by means of ropes connected with the bunches by stapies. One side of a bunch is always heavier than another, and this side is called its riding side, because, When fioating free in the fiume, it will turn over onto that side. Now, it often happens that in turning over onto their riding sides, during their passage, the ropo connections get twisted up and cramping results, and the staples get pulled ont, and as the ropes are too long one bunch rides over upon the end of another and a jam takes place in the rapids. The water then overfiows and undermines the supports of the flune. clamp overcomes all these difficulties. It is applicd to the ends of the bunches G by passing the j aws above and below, as usual. Then, instead of having to drive in wedges to tighten the bunch to the clamp, the clamp is tightened on the bunch by pressing down on the long arm of the lever E and looking its eye over the lug (I. This movement of the lcver, on account of its fulcrum connection with the upper jaw's and its pivotal connection With the lower jaw, draws the jaws together tightly on the bunch. Then the adjacent elamps are connected directly by their hooks IF. These hooks, being swivcled, permit each bunch to turn freely 'to its riding side, and the connec tion between them 's too short to permit any bunch to ride over the end of another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A lumber-clamp eomprising a fixed up- IOO per jaw, a movable ower jaw, and a lever f ulerumed to the fixed jaw and having an arm connected with the movable jaw, whereby the jaws are operated substantially as heren described.

2. A lumber-elanp consisting of the body or frame A, having the upper jaw, the stem or shank fitting in the body or f'ame and guided thereby and having the lower jaw, and the bent level' fulcrumed to the body or frame and pivoted to the stem or shank, substantally as hei-ein described.

3. A lumber-elamp eonsisting of the body or frame A, having the upper jaw, the sten or Shank fitting in the body or frame and guided .thereby and having the lowerjaw, and the bent lever fulerumed to the body or frame and pivoted to the stem or Shank, said lever having an eye 01' loop on its lower end adapted to engage a lug on the stem or shank to lock the parts in position, substantiaily as herein described.

et. A lumber-eiamp eonssting of the body or f rame A, having' the Cross-guide plate and the two uppe' jaw's extending from its sides, the sten or shank D, guided by the eross-plate and having the lower jaw, and the bent lever conneoting the stem 01' shank With the body or f'ame and adapted to tighten the jaws 011 the lumber, substantiaily as he'en described.

5. A lumbe elanp eonsisting of the body OI' f'ane having the upper jaWs, the shank 01- stem having the lower jaW, the bent level' eonneeting the body or frame and the shank or stern and Operating the jaws, and the swiveled hook connected with said body 01' frame, substantially as herein described.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WVILLIAM A. MADDEN.

WVitnesses:

M. .I. MoCRossED, PATRICK SMITH. 

